Biography of 	Fort, Dr. Wiley K. Orleans Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by 	Mike Miller August 2001

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Dr. Wiley K. Fort, physician, New Orleans, La., was originally from the Palmetto
state, his birth occurring in Darlington county, September 21, 1834, and is a
son of John J. Fort, who was born in Enfield, N. C.  The elder Fort left his
native state when a boy, and with his mother located in South Carolina where he
followed planting.  In 1849 he established a plantation in Alabama, near
Montgomery, and there resided many years.  While in Carolina he was chief
justice of Darlington district for fourteen years, and could have held any
position almost, had he so desired, but was of a retiring disposition and
declined all publicity.  His death occurred in Tuskegee, Ala., in 1870.  He was
twice married, first to the daughter of Col. Richard Hart, of North Carolina. 
and became the father of one living son by this union, C. H. Fort, of Macon
county, Ala.  His second marriage was to Miss Eliza Kelly, of South Carolina,
and of the three sons and two daughters born to this union only three are now
living:  Mrs. Davis, of Macon county, Ala.;  W. W., of the same county, and  Dr.
W. K.  The latter received a thorough literary training in his native state and
in Macon county, Ala., and in 1853 began the study of medicine, graduating from
the University of Pennsylvania two years later.  Returning to Alabama he
practiced his profession for a short time and then went to Darlington district
where he was practicing at the breaking out of the Civil war.  He desired to
enter the service as a surgeon and wrote a letter to the secretary of war,
receiving the following reply:

                                        "OFFICE OF THE ARMY MEDICAL BOARD,
                                        "Charlston, S. C., May 14, 1862.
	"Sir :--Orders have been received from Richmond, directing you to report to
General Pemberton in this city, without delay, for duty.  Not knowing your
postoffice they were sent to Sumter.  You will report forthwith to Surgeon
Kenlaugh, in this city.  Should you stop in Sumter you will find your orders
there.  I am very respectfully your obedient servant,
                                               "F. M. ROBERTSON, Surgeon.
                                         `Recorder of Army Medical Board."

Dr. Fort passed a very rigid examination and received a favorable report.  He
was commissioned as assistant surgeon July 19, 1862.  The board of examiners
were men of old service who were very careful whom they commissioned.  The
Doctor was assigned duty at Savannah, Ga.  His commission read thus:
                           "Confederate States of America, War Department,
                                                 "Richmond, July 19, 1862.

"You are hereby informed that the president has appointed you assistant surgeon
in the provisional army in the service of the confederate states, to rank as
such from the 6th day of May, 1862.  Should the senate, at their next session
advise and consent thereto, you will be commissioned accordingly.  Immediately
on receipt hereof, please to communicate to this department through the adjutant
and inspector-general's office your acceptance or non-acceptance of said
appointment, and with your letter of acceptance return to the adjutant and
inspector-general the oath herewith inclosed, properly filled up, subscribed and
attested, reporting at the same time your age, residence, when appointed and the
state in which you were born. Should you accept you will report for duty to the
surgeon-general.                                           George W: Prondoly,
"To Dr. Wiley K. Fort, assistant surgeon, P. A. C. S.     Secretary of War."

Dr. Fort remained in Savannah, Ga., for some time and then entered the navy,
seeking his opportunity to reach the coast of France.  He succeeded in getting
aboard the steamer" Rattlesnake," which ran upon a sandbar near Fort McAllister,
was set on fire and blown up.  All were safely landed, and Dr. Fort was the last
man to leave the doomed vessel.  After this he returned and went to Montgomery,
Ala., where he was on hospital duty until the close of the war.  He surrendered
at Macon, Ga., with General Tonlene.  He located temporarily at Montgomery,
Ala., practiced for a few months, and then, in 1868, came to New Orleans, where
he has since been engaged in civil practice.  He is a member of the American
Medical association and Orleans Parish Medical society.  He was married in 1865
to Miss Virginia Lewis, of Nashville, Tenn., and they have two sons and two
daughters.

Biographical and Historical Memoires of Louisiana, (vol. 1), pp. 419-420. 
Published by the Goodspeed Publishing Company, Chicago, 1892.